Essex Archaeological News,
Autumn 1973 (No 44)
THE A.G.M.
If ever there was an event in
the Society history to which the time honoured word 'occasion' applied, then
this was the 23rd June 1973.
Everything seemed to be in
favour. The Mercury Theatre providentially available, beside the Balkerne Gate,
the day perhaps the hottest and sunniest in June, and of course our guest and
Vice President Sir Mortimer [Wheeler] to share the day and his reminiscences.
No, the last word is wrong, the definition is the recovery of knowledge by
mental effort, and this could never apply to the polished and apparently
effortless way in which Sir Mortimer kept his audience enthralled. But I
digress …
The day was planned to start
with an exhibition at the Theatre combined with guided tours of both
excavations and the Castle, the exhibition was there after some last minute
struggles but the guides were not in evidence, and especial apologies are due
to the party which had travelled from Saffron Walden with adequate warning only
to find that they had to guide themselves. From that time on the streets of
Colchester seemed to throng with Society members.
The pictorial exhibitions were
hung on frames loaned by the Museum and showed the Rivenhall Exhibition which
is excellent material and has outstanding illustrations, and two sets of Rescue
photographs showing the archaeological evidence which is at risk and the
methods of destruction.
This exhibition was shown in
the foyer of the Theatre, and in a small gallery upstairs, during this time the
Restaurant was open and members were beginning to circulate.
Having set up part of the
exhibition and transported the stands I personally began a tight schedule which
included a Publications Committee meeting at the Castle and lunch with the
President at the Rose and Crown before returning to set up for the A.G.M.
itself.
The main meeting went smoothly
with a welcoming speech by Mr M R Hull, our Vice President and a reply to the
membership by the President, Major J G S Brinson. The elections were then
carried out, the President being reinstated by Sir Mortimer Wheeler, who took
over the chair and deftly replaced the Ribbon of Office.
The other elections followed
the proposals of the Council, and the new Council itself needed no election of
a competitive nature since there were just twelve persons nominated, these are
shown below.
In the business which followed
the proposal by the Council that there be a Library membership, was the subject
of some discussion, and it was apparent that the meeting was against the
motion. Mr Charles Sparrow, Q.C., the Hon. Legal Adviser, then moved an
amendment placing the task with the Council of setting suitable fees for access
to the Library facilities in the case of non-members. This amendment was
carried.
The President moved a vote of
thanks to Mr David Forder the Manager of the Theatre and then moved on to the
final item.
The Council had decided to
give a positive indication of gratitude to Mr John S. Appleby, the recently
retired Secretary, and The President made it clear that Mr Appleby had served
as Hon. Archivist for five years before his becoming Secretary in 1959, the sum
was 18 years in Office.
The Council had subscribed
towards a brief case inscribed with Mr Appleby's initials, which was then shown
to the meeting, The President said how he regretted that Mr Appleby had been
unable to attend because of another engagement, and suggested that others in
the meeting might wish to show their appreciation. The brief case was then
passed round for examination, and many members placed in it their own tokens of
appreciation. The President promised to convey it to Mr Appleby with the
meeting's good wishes.
After adjourning for tea, both
members and others met in the Theatre at 4 o'clock to hear a talk by Sir
Mortimer Wheeler. I made the count about three hundred.
There followed three quarters
of an hour of rare enjoyment with Sir Mortimer showing his supreme ability as a
raconteur. Starting with a quip about his 'lecture', this went on to recount
his connections with Colchester, which are not those usually heard, and which
were punctuated with roars of laughter from the audience, and then passed on to
his ultimate moment of satisfaction with the recognition of an amphora handle,
in an Indian museum, which led to the unearthing of the Roman occupation there.
The meeting was then open for
questions which were answered for nearly half an hour, and the meeting was
finally brought to a close with applause and thanks to our speaker, and Vice
President.
The whole perfect day left one
regret: that it is unlikely such a combination of ideal factors can coincide
again.
To conclude one man's A.G.M.,
the exhibition was stripped and packed, and as we stood outside packing the car
the clock struck six, so we were able to retire to the 'Hole in the Wall' and
celebrate in proxy for Sir Mortimer who had tried in vain to visit that pub
earlier in the day.
The Council:- P.B.Boyden,
D.M.Blouet, P.J.Drury, W.J.Rodwell, Mrs J-A. Buck, J.Cornwall, Mrs K.A.Rodwell,
Mrs P.Monk, Dr F.G.Emmison, Mrs O Daynes, T.A.Betts, S.R.Bassett.
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